The campaigning for the by-election to Sangrur Lok Sabha segment ended on Tuesday, with all the main political parties, including the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and main opposition Congress, putting their best foot forward to woo the voters.

The Election Commission has already issued orders to the leaders, from outside the constituency camping here, to leave the poll-bound segment before 6 pm. The polling will be held on June 23 (Thursday), and the votes will be counted on June 26.

Sangrur constituency fell vacant after the resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann as Lok Sabha MP. In its bid to retain the seat, AAP has fielded sarpanch Gurmail Singh, while the Congress had laid its bet on the young gun Dalvir Singh Goldy. Akali Dal, harping on the panthic issues, has fielded Kamaldeep Kaur Rajoana as “joint panthic candidate”, while Khalistan-ideologue Simrajeet Singh Mann is also contesting as SAD (Amritsar-Mann) candidate.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is trying to make its footprints in the border state after breaking of ties with the SAD, has fielded former Congress leader and ex-MLA Kewal Singh Dhillon.

Sangrur District Election Officer-cum-Returning Officer Jatinder Jorwal said that Section 144 has come into force in the district from 6 pm on Tuesday, following which there is complete ban on public meetings and gathering without approval. Candidates are allowed to campaign door-to-door with a limited number of people only.

‘Time to avenge Moosewala’s killing through ballot’: Warring

Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Tuesday appealed to people of Sangrur parliamentary constituency to vote for Dalvir Goldy as he is the combination of youth, experience, dynamism, and dash to become the voice of Punjab in the Parliament.

“Besides, this is the time to avenge Sidhu Moosewala’s murder that was the outcome of criminal negligence and failure of the AAP Government to protect his life despite such grave threats,” said Warring, while wrapping up Congress’ campaign.

Also taking a dig at AAP supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for asking for more time to fulfil pre-poll promises, Warring asked, “What do you need time for? To get people killed at the hands of gangsters the way Moosewala was killed or to push Punjab into communal riots the way it happened in Patiala or to further embolden gangsters who are openly demanding ransom from people?”

Warring, appealed to people to think carefully as who was the best candidate among all five in the contest. “On the one hand, you have tired and worn out turncoats; and on the other hand, you have puppets of Delhi Durbar; and the only deserving candidate with proven credentials is Goldy,” he said, while making a strong case for the Congress candidate. Warring also questioned the progress in Moosewala killing’s investigation. “May I ask the Punjab Government what is its contribution in nabbing the suspects?,” he asked while adding that most of the arrests have been made by the Delhi Police.

“Their incompetence and inexperience coupled with arrogance will ruin Punjab and it is important to shock them with reality check and the Sangrur parliamentary by-election is a golden opportunity to show them the mirror,” he said.

People will visit Sangrur for photography from across the country, promises Mann

On the concluding day of Sangrur by-election campaign on Tuesday, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann along with AAP candidate Gurmail Singh held a long roadshow from Bhawanigarh to Dhuri, covering several villages and towns of the constituency. Appealing to the people to ensure AAP candidate’s victory with an overwhelming majority, Mann announced that AAP Government will make every village of Sangrur so beautiful that people from all over the country will come here to be photographed.

“Making Punjab's schools and hospitals of international standard is my goal. I will open the best medical college in India in Sangrur very soon,” Mann added. Attacking the traditional parties, Mann said that AAP will not function as the previous governments and all their poll promises will be fulfilled. “From July 1, electricity will be free across Punjab,” he said, adding that he would get the farmers of Punjab out of debt and make farming a profitable business.

SAD contesting to secure Sikh detenues’ release; Ready to withdraw if Centre accedes to the demand: Sukhbir

Saying that the party was contesting by-poll on the sole agenda of securing Sikh detenues’ release in league with all panthic organizations, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday declared that in case the Centre acceded to the demand, Akali Dal was ready to withdraw from the fray even at this stage.

“We have chosen to focus on the inhuman treatment being meted out to the Sikh detenues by fielding a member from their families and hope this election will finally secure justice for them and end their suffering,” said Sukhbir while addressing public meetings in favour of Kamaldeep Kaur Rajoana.

Sukhbir, said that Sangrur by-poll would not affect the fortunes of any party or the State government. “However, the victory of Biba Rajoana will reunite the families of Sikh detenues who are still in jail even after completion of their jail sentences,” he said while giving instances of Balwant Singh Rajoana, Prof Devinderpal Singh Bhullar, among others.

Also pointing out that Mann had made a mockery of the Chief Minister’s chair by hanging from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s car, Sukhbir said: “Punjabis feel he has let down the State. It feels as if Bhagwant Mann is on Kejriwal’s payroll. They can never respect such a person who is playing second fiddle to someone who is not even a full-fledged Chief Minister”.

Major setback to BJP as state, district level leaders joined AAP

In a jolt to BJP two days ahead of Sangrur Lok Sabha by-elections, its state and district level office bearers have joined AAP in the presence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday. Inducting the leaders of BJP and business associations in AAP, Mann said that impressed with the honesty and diligence of the AAP party to work for the betterment of people, good people and leaders from other parties are joining the AAP. “AAP governments in Punjab and Delhi have made common men as MLAs, MPs, Ministers and Chief Ministers to combat corruption and run a free administration,” he said.